Three of Corsica Linea's ferries to be powered from the shore

The Swiss-Swedish ABB will furnish Paglia Orba, Jean Nicoli, and Pascal Paoli with shore connection technology in order for them to plug into the local grid when berthed in the Port of Marseille and consequently shut off their diesel-fuelled auxiliary engines.

Each of the three vessels, serving year-round traffic between Marseille and the island of Corsica, is being modified to feature ABB's power compensation solution Dynacomp, which allows electricity available from the local grid in Marseille to be stepped down to 11 kV to take care of the ships' power needs while in port.

The installation of ABB's shore connection technology on one of the ferries, Paglia Orba, is already underway, while the two remaining vessels will be connected to shore power in 2020.

Apart from the supply and shipboard installation of electrical, mechanical, and automation systems, ABB will also deliver a custom-designed cable management system on the quay in Marseille.

"ABB shore connection technology enables the type of emissions-free ship power that regulators, ports and local residents increasingly demand. […] We estimate we will use between 7 MWh and 11 MWh of zero-emission power per call, depending on the vessel," Ludovic Amouroux, Project Manager, Corsica Linea, commented.

Meanwhile, the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille has built the infrastructure at two berths to facilitate shore side power connections.


Photo: Corsica Linea